On Aug. 5, Howard Burnett, the president of the Pocatello Club, gave me a tour of the L.E. & Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center, atop a hill overlooking the city. Constructed from $34 million in private funds, this impressive 123,000 square foot edifice provides the City of Pocatello with outstanding service featuring music and theatre.
I thought as I was touring with Howard that the Center was like the Rotary Club of Pocatello, elegant, useful, serving the community, welcoming the world.
Howard and his wife Carol, are patrons of the arts and both have had a profound influence on Pocatello, Howard's native city and Carol's adopted home. For me, these two impressive people who welcomed me into their home symbolize the Rotary Club of Pocatello, thoughtful leadership, intelligent, focused and warm hearts.
Here Saeid Arezaii poses for a snapshot in the Burnett home in the festive dinner on the evening of August 4.
THE SYMPHONY OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
In recent years, two leading citizens of Pocatello have served as District 5400 Governor, long-time educator Richard Sagness (2003-04) and dentist Gene Hoge (2008-09). Both are gracious, civic-minded and focused on Rotary's mission. Gene serves as the District PolioPlus chair. Dick repesented the district in Rotary International's Council on Legislation.
After dinner, the leaders of the club met on the porch and shared the reasons they are committed Rotarians. Each told a different story from the other but the themes were clear: influence of a father or other person, friendship and fellowship, networking in the community, service to the community, international service and an evolving understanding of what Rotary is and does.
Front Row l to r; Dena Green, K.C. Felt, Jody Jackman, Ruth Jackson, Tim Forhan. Back row: Saeid Arezaii, Keevan Shropshire, Tom Clark, Kert Howard, George Loyd, Howard Burnett, Darl Bennett, Jay Kunze, and Assistant Governor Alan Stanek.
A recent article in The Idaho State Journal stated the following:
Rotary Club of Pocatello is well-known locally for its sponsorship each year of fundraising public performances of "The Nutcracker" ballet (including free performances for area school children.) Through the volunteer efforts of its members, and with the proceeds of its fundraising activities and personal donations made by its members, Rotary Club of Pocatello also supports numerous in international health, literacy and student exchange projects as well as many local projects and organizations such as Idaho State Civic Symphony, Idaho Foodbank, Salvation Army, the Dictionary Project for third graders, Science Trek, Girls' State, Boy Scouts of America, Simplot Games and highway cleanups.
ALL THIS AND HUMOR, TOO!
Yes, an impressive club full of impressive people, but a club that likes to laugh, too. When he was DG Gene Hoge frequently said, "If it ain't fun, we ain't doin' it."
So, on the day of my presentation, Richard Kirkham, sergeant at arms, lectured the assemblage about proper decorum, emphasizing that all cell phone should be turned OFF among other rules he articulated! Sounded reasonable to me, as I quietly grabbed my cell phone and ensured that it was OFF!
Then during the middle of my speech whose cell went OFF! You guessed it, Richard Kirkham's! I fined him five bucks!
-Submitted with profound respect for the Rotary Club of Pocatello
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